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Learning To Let Go: Be Careful
By Alexis Pryce

Spoilers: Billy
Rating: R

Wesley stared up at the ceiling, obviously pondering something.

"So...how many?" Cordelia asked as she walked in the room.

"What?" Wesley looked down at her. "How many what?"

"Spots. Tiles. Whatever you're counting." She shrugged. "You've been pretty weird lately. What's up?" She took a seat in the chair in front of his desk.

"Nothing. Just...got a lot on my mind." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked back up at the ceiling.

"Fred." Cordy sighed.

Wesley jumped, almost falling backwards in his chair. "Fred? Where? What?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "It's Fred, isn't it?"

"I...yes." He sighed. There was no use defending himself against Cordelia.

"Do you want some help? I can help you." She sat forward, putting her head in her palms.

"Help? What kind of help?"

"Would you stop repeating everything I'm saying?"

Wesley blushed a little. "Sorry. How are you planning to help me?"

"Well...I could set you two up on an..." She made quotation marks with her fingers, ''accidental date."

"Acci--sorry again. Yes, I suppose that would work. But don't you think I should be a little bit more...forthcoming with her?"

Cordy raised an eyebrow. "Forthcoming? You slammed the girl up against the wall and kissed her. How else are you going to be more aggressive?"

Wes removed his glasses and began cleaning them nervously. "Right." He said, quietly.

"I'm sorry, Wes...I didn't mean to..." She sighed.

"Don't worry about it. I suppose it's something I'll have to live with for the rest of my life. I almost killed Fred." He put his glasses on his face and tugged at his sweater.

Cordelia thought for a moment. "What if...Angel, Fred, you, and I all go out for dinner, but Angel and I don't show? Do you think that would work?"

Wesley suddenly had a look of hope on his face. "Yes...I think so." He smiled shyly.

"Great! I'll talk to you over lunch about it, okay?"

"Sure." Wesley opened a book, a pleasant smile upon his face.

Fred felt another shoulder hit hers. She looked up. "Oh. Hi Cordelia." She smiled.

"Oh. Hey, Fred. Listen. Do you think you'd wanna go to a little dinner party with Angel, Wes, and me? We'd really like to have you there."

"Sure!" Fred smiled. "I like dinner parties. They're fun! When is it?"

"Umm...I don't know. I'll have the details for you tomorrow, okay?"

Wesley stood, gathering his things. "You know, Fred," He whispered, "This would be a lot easier if you weren't so shy. I wish you were more outgoing." With everything in hand, Wesley walked on towards home.

Fred woke with a funny feeling inside. She didn't totally feel like herself, but she felt good about it. Standing, she took a look at herself in the mirror.

"Maybe he'd notice me if I dressed differently. Acted differently." She reached in her closet and grabbed a knee-length red dress that she'd stopped wearing when she thought it had gotten too tight. She held it up to her body and cocked her head to the side. "Hmm..."

Cordelia sipped her coffee as she walked towards the reception desk. She straightened everything and set her coffee on the desk. Taking a seat, she looked up to see Fred.

"Oh...Hi, Fred. How are you this morning? Feeling better now?" Taking a second look, Cordelia arched an eyebrow at Fred's attire.

"Much." She smiled. She walked around the desk to the back, making herself a cup of tea. Cordelia's gaze never left her. "What?" She asked, looking at Cordy. She tugged a little on the bottom of the newly-modified dress that she wore. The skirt fit her quite snugly with the bottom reaching her mid-thigh. It didn't leave much to the imagination at all. The top was cut separately from the dress, leaving her perfectly flat stomach out in the open.

Wesley walked in, briefcase in one hand, newspaper underneath the other. "Good Mor--" He stopped in his tracks. The briefcase hit the floor. Swallowing hard, he tried to form words.

"Eh..uh..Fred...umm..." He swallowed again and cleared his throat. "Good Morning, Cordelia...Fred."

Fred smiled, but Cordy never even looked at him. "Hey, Wes." She winked.

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